Gluing mechanism for box-making machines



Jan. 4, 1944.

G. S. SILLARS GLUING MECHANISM FOR BOX-MAKING MACHINES .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Fb. 12, 1943 Jail. 4, 1944.- s s s 2,338,138

GLUING MECHANISM FOR BOXMAKING MACHINES Filed Febf 12, 1943- s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Jan. 4, 1944 owmdisiscnamsu roa BOX-MAKING 'MAOHINES George S. Sillan, Beverly, Mala, assign to Home-Swans orporation, Lynn. Mala, a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 1:, 194:, Serial No. 475,006

11 Clam (cm-s1) This invention relates to box-makingcmachines, and more particularly to-machines of the type disclosed in an application for Letters Patent of the United States Serial No; 410,274, flied September 10, 1941, in the name of C. D. Knowl: ton, an object of the invention being to provide improved adhesive-applying mechanism particularly adapted for use in machines of the abovementioned type, i

For the purpose in view, the present invention provides an efficient, compact and simple adhesive-applying mechanism in which but a single applying roll is employed the surface of which is of such a character that the roll may be manufactured and reconditioned after wear without special tools.

As herein illustrated and in accordance with one feature of the invention, the single adhesiveapplying roll is mounted-for rotation about a vertical axis and has its lower end preferably submerged in a receptacle containing adhesive. Co-operating with the adhesive-applying roll is a spreader block which is coextensive with the roll and is arranged yieldingly to engage the roll, the roll-engaging surface of the block being concentric to the axis of the roll. Adjacent to the concentric surface of the block and adjoining block rests, and anupstanding spindle rising from the arm parallel to the of the roll @which occupies a groove formed in the block. By swinging the arm away from the roll, the

by lateral movement.

the same along a line parallel to the axis of the roll is another surface which diverges from the surface of the applying roll, thereby forming be-' tween this surface and the surface of the roll a trapping area or channelin which the adhesive is caught as the roll rotates so that, as the surface 'of the roll advances toward the trapping channel, the adhesive accumulates, building up in the channel until it reaches the top of the roll. As herein shown, spiral grooves are formed in the surface of the roll which, in co-operation with the spreader block, assist in lifting the adhesive caught in the trapping channel and effect a uniform spreading of the adhesive on the surface of the roll. One of the grooves is relatively wide and has alarge angular pitch whereby a large quantity of adhesive is rapidly raised to the top of the roll. The other groove is a comparatively fine V- -thread and has a small pitch, this thread serving to lift a small quantity of adhesive but its primary purpose being, in cooperation with the spreader block, to spread'the adhesive lifted by the large groove in a. uniform film over the surface of the roll. Special means is provided for holding the spreader block in engagement with the roll. This means comprises an arm pivoted for movement to and from the applying roll, upon which the lower end. of the spreader block may be removed from the spindle .The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying. drawings,

in which Fig. l is a view in front elevation of-a portion of a box-making machine with'the present invention embodied therein, showing the relation of the improved adhesive-applying mechanism to other parts of the machine:

Fig. 2 is an angular view of a box-blank of a type operated upon by the machine shown in Fig. 1, the-box blank shown having its comerlaps folded and resting upon the table of the machine:

Fig. 3 is a plan view on the line III-III of Fig. 4:

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the adhesive applying mechanism of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a plan view ofa portion of the table directly above the end of the adhesive-applying roll;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section of the adhesiveapplying roll, showing the relative sizesof the grooves formed in the surface thereof;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a portion of the spreader block, showing the inside surfaces thereof Fig. 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII of F s- 4; and

Fig. 9 is a section on the line IX-IX ofFig. 8.

The invention is directed specifically toan improvement in the adhesive-applying mechanism of the box-making machine disclosed in application Serial No. 410,274 and therefore only as much of the aforesaid machine as is necessary to afford a clear understanding of the location and function of the adhesive-applying mechanism with respect tothe machine as a whole will be herein illustrated and described in detail.

The apparatus has a hollow base (not shown) from which there rises a tubularcolumn Ill (Fig. 1') having secured across its front near the upper extremity a horizontal bar l6. Fastened to the bar in succession from the outer end thereof are a support A for the box-blanks, a table or guide B upon which a blank is rested as it is operated upon and upon which it is moved from one mech- -isadapted to apply adhesive to an; end-wing ofthe box-blank and its extension, and folding mechanism D which folds the adhesive-coated surface of the end-wing against the comerlaps. mounted upon the upper end of the hollow col- ,umn I II and serves to forma permanent bond between the folded comer-laps and end-wing.

In setting up a blank with the aid of this machine, the operator removes a blank S from the support A, preliminarily. bends the comer-laps a (Fig. 2) inwardly to a position substantially at right angles to the body of the box, and places the blank with its long dimension in substantially a vertical position with its infolded cornerlaps in contact with the table B. The table 13 has a horizontal portion l2 and an inclined terminal portion l4 which is joined to the horizontal portion by a curved portion "3a. The portions l4 and I611 engage the inwardly partially folded comer-laps and, when the operator presses the blank downwardly and advances it toward the horizontal portion l2, complete the folding thereof (Fig. 2). The blank is then advanced along the horizontal portion l2 of the table B with its end-wing b and extension c projecting downwardly in a position to receive adhesive from the adhesive-applying mechanism C. After receiving a coating of adhesive, the blank is advanced farther along the table to the subsequent mechanisms D and E for the folding and pressing operations which need not be described herein since they are fully illustrated and described in the prior application above referred to.

To permit ready access to the adhesive-apply ing mechanism for cleaning or inspection, the table B is constructed so that it may be tipped upwardly and backwardly to an out-of-the-way position (Figs. 8 and 9). As shown herein, bosses l8 are fastened to the underside of the table at its rear edge close to the inner side of a pair of uprights 20 which are formed integral with a plate 22 fastened to the bar It. Alined openings are formed in the bosses I8 and uprights 20 through which there is passed a rod 24 (Fig. 8) having a crank arm 26 formed at one end, for a purpose which will appear hereinafter. By lifting the front edge of the table, it may be tilted upwardly and backwardly about the rod 24. The table is locked in its horizontal position by engagement of a pair of pins 28 (Fig. 9) near the front edge of the table, with the inclined surfaces 30 of a pair of cleats 32 secured to the underside of the table. Since the mechanism is identical at opposite sides of the table, only one side is illustrated herein. As shown, each pin 28 is fastened to a horizontal arm 34 extending forwardly from the uprights 20. The arms 34 serve to support the table in a horizontal position. The inclined surfaces 30 of the cleats are slidunder the pins 28 by transverse movement of the table. To accomplish this, the openings in the uprights 20 through which the rod 24 is passed are enlarged to receive eccentrics 20 (Fig. 9) fastened to the rod 24. Thus, by rotation of the crank arm 28 the table may be moved forwardly or rearwardly to latch or unlatch the locking mechanism. It is to be observed that a panel I3 (Fig. is recessed into the table l2 above the adhesive-applying mechanism and is removably fastened in place. This permits access to the adhesive-applying mechanism without lifting the table as a whole, if that is undesirable under operating conditions.

The adhesive-applying mechanism 0 is fastened to the plate 22, as will subsequently ap- The pressure-applying mechanism E is pear, the latter being fastened to thebar l6 by bolt-and-slot connections 38 and 40 so that it may be moved longitudinally of the table B.

. This permits adjustment of the adhesive-applying mechanism with respect to the folding mechanism and also adjustment for different lengths of box-blanks. As in the prior machine, a receptacle or container 42 (Figs. 4 and 8) for adhesive is provided which may be warmed by anelectric heating unit (not shown) attached to the bot tom thereof. At the rear of the receptacle is an upward extension 48 which is divided to form arms hooked at 50 over the edge of the plate 22. A pair of screws 52 are threaded through the hooks into contact with the edge of'the plate 22 and, by turning down or backing oil the screws, the receptacle may be leveled. A tubular extension 54 (Fig. 8) rises from the center of the receptacle in which a shaft 56 is journaled to support an adhesive-applying roll 64 for rotation about a vertical axis. A collar 58 is fastened to the shaft 56 in contact with a bushi ing 60 which rests on the upper end of the tubular tion between the shaft'and the adhesive-applying r011 64 is afforded by a plurality of vertical pins 66 set into the top of the collar 58 and extending into openings formed in the lower transverse end of the spool 62. The upper end of the roll 64 is closed and the upper transverse end of the spool 62 forms a bearing support 10 for the end of the shaft 56. The lower portion of the applying roll surrounds and is spaced from the extension 54 of the receptacle. The adhesive-applying roll 64 is rotated, in the direction indicated by an arrow in each of Figs. 3, 4 and 5, by a pulley 12 (Fig. 8) fastened to the lower end of the shaft 56, the pulley 12 receiving power through a belt 14 driven from a'motor mounted on the column In. I

For the purposes of this invention, there is provided a spreader block 16 which, in co-operation with the adhesive-applying roll, traps a quantity of adhesive which is elevated by the continued rotation of the roll in contact with the block to raise the adhesive to the top of the roll and uniformly to spread it on the surface of the roll. The spreader block 16 (Fig. 4), preferably of cast iron, is of substantially the same length as the adhesive-applyin roll 84 and is held adjacent to the adhesive-applying roll by a spindle 18, with its lower end resting on a horizontal arm to which the spindle 18 is fixed in an upright position. A half round groove 82 is formed in the rear surface of the block 16 removably to receive the spindle 18. The rear end of the arm 80 rises upwardly and i bent rearwardly at 84. The rear end of the bentback portion 84 is pivoted upon a pin 86 fixed to one of the divided arms of the upward extension 48. This permits swinging movement of the arm 80, and consequently of the block I6, to and from the surface of the adhesive-applying roll 64. By reason of the half-round groove 82 in the block I6, it is apparent that the block 16 may be removed from the machine by swinging the arm 80 away from the surface of the adhesive-applying roll 64 without having to draw the roll endwise from the spindle 18.

One side of the spreader block 16 (Fig. 7)

roll, the groove being relatively coarse. that is,

is provided with adjoining concave surfaces and 00. the former being of the same radius of curvature as the surface of the adhesive-applying roll 04. A pair of compression springs 00 (Fig. 4) are providedfor urging the block I0 toward the surface of the adhesive-applying roll 04. Each spring 00 is supported at one end upon a reduced boss formed at one end of a rod 02 the opposite end of which is reduced in diameter and is threaded at 04 through a postli'rising from the wall of the container. The free end of each of the springs 00 bears against the spindle I0 and the pressure with which the block I0 bears against the surface of the roll 04 may be regulated by rotation of the screws 04. hand knobs I00 being provided for this purpose. In order to apply the force -to' the block 10 without causing any twisting of the same one way or the other, a flat bearing plate 00 is interposed between the spindle I0 and the end of each spring 90. The concave surface 00 which lies to the left of the surface 00, as seen in Fig. 7, and toward which the surface of the adhesive-applying roll 64 advances (Figs. '3 andv 4) diverges from the surface of th adhesive-applying roll, thereby providing a narrow crevice I02 between the diverging surface of the block I0 and the surface of th adhesive-applying roll from the bottom to the top thereof. This narrow crevice I I02, hereinafter called strapping channel, receives a quantity of adhesive which is carried into it by the advancing surface of the adhesive-applying roll. The adhesive accumulates rapidly therein because of the fact that most of the adhesiveon the advancing surface of the adhesiveapplying roll is stripped therefrom as it moves beyond the leading edge I04 of the Surface 00. As the adhesive accumulates, it is forced upwardly along the trapping channel I02 to the top of the roll where some of it creeps in between the upper end surfaces of the block I6 and the roll and the underside of the table. To dispose of this excess adhesive at the upper end of the roll. a way I06 is formed in the concave surface 06, at the center which, receives the adhesive, the adhesive descending therein by gravity to, the bottom of the roll and into the receptacle. The major portion of the excess ad-v hesive is removed by a scraper I08 (Fig. which is fastened to the underside of the removable panel I3 in the table I 2. The leading edge I09 of the scraper engages the end of the roll in advance of the block IS. Th adhesive scraped from the end of the roll is pushed outwardly along the edge I09 and runs back into the container or drops down into the trapping channel" While a smooth-surfaced adhesive-applying relatively wide and deep, so that it will pick p a large quantity of'adhesive. The helix angle of the groove is made quite large so that the adhesive is lifted rapidly. The amount ofadhesive carried by th steep-pitched spiral groove I I0 is adequate, but, because of the distance between the helices of the groove, the film on the roll consists of alternate heavy and light bands of adhesive. To smooth out the film, a fin V- thread II! (Fig. 6) having a substantially small angular pitch is formed on the surface of the adhesive-applying roll 04 overlying the coarse spiral groove H0. The roll is made lightly oversize and after the V-thread is cut on the surface of the roll the surface is turned down to provide lands' II4 between the helices of the threads.

coarse groove IIO, this being accomplished,fin co-operation with the block 16,.by the combined scraping and smoothing action of the sharp edges of the lands H4 and the flatsurfaces between V The thickness of the'film of adhethese edges. sive may be regulated byrotation of the screws 94 which move the surface of the block I6 to and from the surface of the adhesive-applying roll.

As in the prior machine, the end-wing b and its extension c (Fig. 2) are held against the surface of the adhesive-applying roll 64 as the blank is advanced along the table, by a pressure roll H0 (Fig. 1) adjacent to the applying roll. The pressure roll III is freely rotatable about an axis parallel to that of the adhesive-applying roll 64, turning upon a vertical spindle II8 (Fig. 4) the ends of which are fixed in a yoke I20. The yoke is supported by two horizontal rods I22 passing through a post I24 rising upwardly from the front of the receptacle 42. The post I24 is removably secured to the receptacle by a screw I26. The outer ends of the rods I22 are threaded to receive hand nuts I20. Expansion springs I30 are interposed between the post I24 and the yoke I20 about the rods I22. By rotating the hand 3 nuts I20, the position of the pressure roll IIS and the force with which it holds the blank against the adhesive-applying roll may be varied.

The adhesive-applying mechanism of the machine is made ready for use by warming the adhesive until it is of a uniform consistency, starting the machine to cause rotation of theadhesive-applying roll 84, and, finally, by adjusting theblock I0 relative to the surface of the roll to cause the adhesive ,to rise in the trapping -minal portion of the table. By pressing downas the roll lifts it. Accordingly, means is provided on the surface .of th adhesive-applying roll which, in co-operation with the block I03;

will insure a prompt delivery of adhesive to the top of the roll and will maintain a uniform film on the surface of the roll at all times. As shown herein, this means comprisesa spiral groove IIO (Figs. 4 and 6) formed in the surface'of the mechanism of the machine.

are not herein shown and described since they wardly, the corner-laps are folded and in this condition the blank is advanced along the horizontal portion of the table with its end-wing and extension projecting downwardly in a position I readily to pass between the surface of the ad-.

hesive-applying roll and the pressure-apply, ing roll I I0. After the adhesive has been applied; further movement of the blank presents it to they folding mechanism and to the pressure-applying form no part of .the present invention. For a full disclosure of the construction and operation While this time V-thread m carries some adhesive upwardly, its primaryfunction is to spread the adhesive already raised by the These mechanisms supported adjacent to the adhesive-applying roll,

and means for yieldably urging the block toward the adhesive-applying roll, said block having a roll-engaging surface and another surface lying at that side of said roll-engaging surface toward which the surface of theadhesive-applying roll advances and diverging therefrom, thereby forming a channel between said diverging surface and the surface of the roll.

2; In a machine for applying adhesive to boxblanks, a receptacle, an adhesive-applying roll mounted for rotation about a vertical axis with its lower end submerged in the receptacle, a block movably supported adjacent to the adhesive- I applying roll, and means yieldably urging the block toward the adhesive-applying roll, said block having a roll-engaging surface, the edge of said roll-engaging surface toward which the surface of the roll advances serving to strip most of the adhesive from the roll, and another surface lying at that side of said roll-engaging surface toward which the surface of the adhesiveapplying roll advances and diverging therefrom, thereby forming a channel between the diverging surface and the surface of the roll to receive the adhesive stripped from the roll, said adhesive accumulating in said channel and being elevated therein by rotation of the, adhesive-applying roll. 1 3. In a machine for applying adhesive to boxblanks, a receptacle, an adhesive-applying roll mounted for rotation about a vertical axis with its lower end'submerged in the receptacle, a block movably supported adjacent to the adhesive-applying roll, and means yieldably urging the block toward the adhesive-applying roll, said block having adjoining concave surfaces, one of said surfaces being concentric with the axis of the adhesive-applying roll and having a groove therein extending from top to bottom and the other of said surfaces lying at that side of said one surface toward which the surface of the roll advances and diverging from the surface. of the roll, thereby forming a trapping channel between said diverging surface and the surface of the roll in which the adhesive is raised by rotation of the roll to the top thereof, said groove serving to receive the excess adhesive at the top of the roll and to return it to the receptacle.

4. In a machine for applying adhesive to boxblanks, a receptacle, an adhesive-applying roll mounted for rotation about a vertical axis with its lower end submerged in the receptacle, a block, said block having a roll-engaging surface which is concentric with the axis of the adhesiveapplying-roll and an adjacent surface which is engagement with the surface of the adhesiveapplying roll, said holding means comprising an arm arranged to support the lower end of the block. said arm being mounted for movement to and from the adhesive-applying roll, and a post fixed to said arm and rising upwardly therefrom in engagement with said groove to hold the block against the surface of the roll whereby upon movement of the arm away from the roll said block may be dismounted from said support by lateral movement.

5. In a machine for applying adhesive to boxblanks, a receptacle, an adhesive-applying roll mounted for rotation about a vertical axis with its lower end submerged in the receptacle, a block having a roll-engaging surface, and means for holding the block yieldably against the surface of the roll, said roll having on its surface means which, in co-operation withthe block, quickly elevates a relatively large quantity of adhesive ,from thebottom to the top thereof, and other means thereon which, in co-operation with the block, effects a spreading of the adhesive on the surface of the roll.

6. In a machine for applying adhesive to boxblanks, a receptacle, an adhesive-applying roll mounted for rotation about a vertical axis with its lower end submerged in the receptacle, 9, block having a roll-engaging surface, and means for holding the block yieldably against the surface of the roll, said roll having on its surface means for elevating different quantities of adhesive at different rates from the receptacle to the top of the roll, one of said means being adapted, in cooperation with the block, uniformly to spread the adhesive raised by the other of said means.

'7. In a machine for applying adhesive to boxblanks, a receptacle, an adhesive-applying roll mounted for rotation about a vertical axis with its lower end submerged in the receptacle, 9, block having a roll-engaging surface; and means for holding the block yieldably against the surface of the adhesive-applying roll, the surface of said roll having a coarse spiral groove having a relatively large helix angle adapted, in co-operation with the block, rapidly to lift a large quantity of adhesive from the receptacle to the top of the roll and a fine thread of relatively small pitch arranged to lift an additional quantity of adhesive and, in co-operation with the block, to spread the adhesive lifted by the coarse groove.

8. In a machine for applying adhesive to boxblanks, a receptacle, an adhesive-applying roll mounted for rotation about a vertical. axis with its lowerend submerged in'the receptacle, a block having a roll-engaging surface, and means for holding the block yieldably against the surface of the roll, said roll having a spiral groove formed on its surface, the lands between the helices of the spiral groove being wider than the groove, and a fine thread of small pitch traversing said lands a plurality of times between each helix of said groove;

9. In a machine for applying adhesive to box- I blanks, a receptacle, an adhesive-applyin roll mounted for rotation about a vertical axis with its lower end submerged in thereceptaole, a block having a roll-engaging surface, and means for holding the block yieldably against the surface of the roll, said rollhaving a spiral groove formed on its urface, the lands between the helices of the groove being wider than the groove, and a fine thread of small pitch traversing said lands a plurality of times between each helix of the spiral groove, the lands between each helix of the thread being substantially the same width as the thread.

10; In a machine for applying adhesive to boxblanks, a receptacle, an adhesive-applying roll mounted for rotation about a vertical axis with its lower end submerged in the receptacle, a block, and means for yieldably holding the block against the surface of the adhesive-applying roll, said block having a surface conforming to a portion of the surface of the roll and a surface diverging therefrom, thereby forming a channel toward which the surface of the roll moves, said roll having on its surface means which, in cooperation with the bloek, elevates the adhesive in said channel and spreads it uniformly on the surface of the roll. r

11. In a machine for applying adhesive to boxblanks, a receptacle, an adhesive-applying roll mounted for rotation about a vertical axis with its lower end submerged in the receptacle, a block, means for yieldably holding the block against the surface of the adhesive-applying roll, said block having a surface conforming to a portion of the surface of the roll and a surface diverging therefrom, thereby forming a channel toward which the surface of the roll moves, and means associated with said first-named surface of the block to strip the adhesive from the advancing surface of the adhesive-applying roll, thereby to fill the channel with adhesive, said roll having means on its surface which, in co-operation with the block, elevates the adhesive in said channel and effects a uniform spreading of the adhesive on the surface of the roll.

GEORGE S. 

